Jaguars Edge Cardinals 27-24 in OT Thriller on Monday Night Football

The Jacksonville Jaguars pulled off a heart-stopping 27-24 overtime victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football, State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona — a game that turned on a 39-yard touchdown pass and a last-second field goal that left fans breathless. The win, sealed at 12:17 a.m. EST on November 24, 2025, improved the Jaguars’ record to 7-4 and kept their playoff hopes alive, while the Cardinals fell to a frustrating 4-7 at home, their fourth loss in five games. What made it more dramatic? The game wasn’t just close — it was chaotic, with three lead changes in the final six minutes and a defense that held firm when it mattered most.

How the Game Unfolded

With the temperature hovering at 17°C and a sparse but vocal crowd in Glendale, the Cardinals took a 21-17 lead late in the fourth quarter after quarterback Jacoby Brissett connected with wide receiver Greg Dortch on a perfectly timed slant route — a 39-yard touchdown that had the home crowd roaring. Brissett finished 25-of-35 for 226 yards and one score, but his third-quarter interception in the red zone nearly cost Arizona the game. Meanwhile, the Jaguars’ offense, led by quarterback Trevor Lawrence, stayed patient. He threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns, including a 14-yard strike to Zay Jones in the final minute of regulation to tie it at 24-24.

The turning point came on a 48-yard field goal attempt by Arizona’s Chandler Catanzaro — a kick that sailed wide left with 0:09 left on the clock. The Jaguars got the ball back with 1:23 remaining in overtime. Lawrence, cool under pressure, completed four straight passes, including a 22-yard dart to Christian Kirk that set up Josh Lambo for the game-winner from 37 yards out. The kick was true. The sideline erupted. The Cardinals’ defense, which had held Jacksonville to just 3.2 yards per play through three quarters, suddenly looked out of sync.

The Officials and the Controversy

The game was overseen by referee Scott Novak and his crew, which included umpire Mike Morton and line judge Mark Stewart — all veterans with over 15 years of NFL experience. But the final minutes weren’t without debate. On third-and-goal from the 5-yard line in the fourth quarter, Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. appeared to fumble after a hit from Cardinals linebacker Zach Allen. The ball rolled loose, and Arizona recovered. But after review, officials ruled Etienne was down by contact — a call that kept Jacksonville’s drive alive. Replays showed contact occurred just before the ball came loose, but many Cardinals fans still questioned whether the call was correct.

"It was a tough one," said Novak in his postgame presser. "We had clear visual confirmation from multiple angles that the runner was down before the ball came free. That’s the standard we operate under." The ruling stood, and the Jaguars converted on the next play with a 1-yard touchdown run by Etienne — their only score of the game on the ground.

How Fans Watched — And Where They Couldn’t

Monday Night Football on ESPN drew a national audience of 14.2 million viewers, according to Nielsen. For those in Arizona, the game streamed live on azcardinals.com via Safari mobile web, while Jaguars fans tuned in through jaguars.com’s streaming portal. Radio coverage came from SportsRadio 610, whose broadcast was later uploaded to YouTube and has since garnered over 850,000 views.

International fans had fewer options. DIRECTV NFL Sunday Ticket offered the game in select markets, but many countries — including parts of Europe and Latin America — were excluded due to regional broadcasting rights. The NFL’s structure remains rigid: CBS handles AFC games, FOX covers NFC matchups, NBC owns Sunday Night Football, and ESPN has exclusive rights to Monday nights — a system unchanged since 2021.

What This Means for the Playoff Race

The Jaguars, now tied for second in the AFC South behind the Tennessee Titans, are one game ahead of the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts. Their next two games — against the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills — are critical. Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ playoff chances are all but gone. With a 4-7 record and no wins in their last five home games, they’re now in full rebuild mode. General manager Steve Keim reportedly met with head coach Kyler Murray after the game, though no personnel changes were announced.

"We’re not out of it," said Jaguars head coach Marc Trestman postgame. "But we’re not fooling ourselves. This is the kind of win that separates contenders from pretenders. We’ve got to keep building."

Behind the Scenes: The Stadium, the Staff, the Stats

State Farm Stadium, home of the Cardinals since 2006, has hosted 14 Monday Night Football games since 2009 — more than any other NFC West venue. On this night, the field was dry, the lighting crisp, and the sound system — upgraded last offseason — delivered every cheer and whistle with clarity. The officiating crew, led by Novak, had worked together for 11 consecutive seasons, one of the most stable crews in the league.

Statistically, the Jaguars won the turnover battle 2-0, held the ball for 34 minutes, and converted 7 of 12 third downs. Brissett’s 226 yards were respectable, but his 64.3% completion rate paled next to Lawrence’s 71.4%. And while Dortch’s touchdown was a highlight, he finished with just 35 receiving yards — a far cry from his 112-yard performance against San Francisco two weeks prior.

What’s Next?

The Jaguars host the Atlanta Falcons on December 1, 2025, in a game that could decide their division fate. The Cardinals travel to Seattle for a rare prime-time matchup against the Seahawks on December 4 — their last chance to salvage pride before the season ends. With Super Bowl LX scheduled for February 2026 in New Orleans, every game now matters more than ever.